Self-directed online information search can affect policy support: a randomized encouragement design with digital behavioral data

The abundance of information sources in our digital environment makes it difficult to study how such information shapes individuals' support for current policies. Our study with 791 German participants investigates self-directed online search in a naturalistic setting through three randomized c...

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Bibliographic Details
Main Authors Kacperski, Celina, Ulloa, Roberto, Selb, Peter, Spitz, Andreas, Bonnay, Denis, Kulshrestha, Juhi
Format Journal Article
LanguageEnglish
Published 06.01.2025
Subjects
Computer Science - Computers and Society
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Summary:The abundance of information sources in our digital environment makes it difficult to study how such information shapes individuals' support for current policies. Our study with 791 German participants investigates self-directed online search in a naturalistic setting through three randomized controlled experiments on three topical policy issues: basic child support, renewable energy transition, and cannabis legalization. Participants' online browsing was passively tracked. Significant attitude shifts were observed for child support and cannabis legalization, but not for renewable energy transition. By encouraging participants to seek online information, this study enhances ecological validity compared to traditional experiments that expose subjects to predetermined content. Our experimental approach lays the groundwork for future research to advance understanding of media effects within the dynamic online information landscape.
DOI:10.48550/arxiv.2501.03097